Fall into Thanksgiving with Whisky and Pie Pairings

It’s Thanksgiving, Canadian style! To celebrate this special day, dedicated to family, friends and, of course, pastry-enveloped foods, we’re sharing the following perfect whisky-and-pie pairings, handpicked by whisky expert and The Balvenie ambassador Jamie Johnson. Bonus: you can wow your guests with your in-depth knowledge of these classic seasonally matching notes! —Vita Daily

pumpkin pie + caribbean cask 14. The pumpkin pie and Caribbean Cask 14 have complimentary flavours due to the ginger notes in both the pie and the whisky. Pumpkin pie isn’t overly sweet but is rich in baking spices such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. The Caribbean Cask 14 gives light sweetness which brings out a similar sweetness in the pie. Ginger in the pie works well with the pineapple notes found in the Caribbean Rum cask finish, which also adds a peppery spiciness which compliments the abundance of baking spices found in the pie.

apple Pie + doublewood 12. Classic pie with classic whisky, pairing the fruit pie and DoubleWood 12 perfectly. The rich stewed fruit notes from the DoubleWood 12 whisky, the apples in pie and the cinnamon in both play nicely together. The sherry cask finish brings the baking spices (nutmeg, cinnamon) and the rich stone fruit flavours (plum, cherry, date) of the DoubleWood 12 to the forefront. These pair with the sweetness of the apples.

pecan Pie + portwood 21. PortWood is an understated whisky – elegant with hints of raisin, which pairs well with the pecan. The elegance of the PortWood is not overshadowed by the sweetness of the pecan pie which does not add any unnecessary sweetness. Deep baking spices found in the pie that are elevated with the hint of cocoa found on the back end of the PortWood 21 and the marzipan notes will work excellently with a flaky pie crust. There is a reason dried fruits, which are an ample flavour in the PortWood, match so well with nuts in so many other capacities and there is no exception here.

chocolate pie + Doublewood 17. The richness of both the chocolate and whisky play well with their bitterness and spiciness, making them a heavenly match. The sweetness of the pie is balanced by the richness and savory baking spice flavours found in DoubleWood 17.

turkey pie + tun 1509. Higher ABV whisky cuts through the richness of the gravy so the whisky is able to make a statement. The pie is rich and savory, which contrasts the sweet and oaky notes of the whisky yet they pair well. The oak and the slightest trace of char from the whisky highlight the savory flavours from the turkey.

shepherds pie + single barrel 12. Where some whiskies could get lost, the Single Barrel 12 stands up well to multitudes of flavours, with the higher ABV cutting through the rich, savory notes of the shepherds pie. The sweetness of the whisky is intensified with the complete contrast with the pie. The vanilla notes in the whisky are especially noticeable after a bite. The oak and honey in the whisky plays with the savory umami of the meat, lending balance.

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